Hello to everyone coming from this video! Just want to let you know I'm currently working on another biggie they just take time. So I apologize in advance for the wait, hopefully the smaller filler videos I upload will hold you guys over till then. But I hope you'll see it real soon. :)
here because youtube algorithm, stayed for nostalgia. i remember having the tcg cards for zatch bell without knowing anything about the show nor knowing how to play said tcg game
@@napdad Ohhh, I think I passed something about that a while ago and was like "nah, I'm going crazy, there's no way" now I need to rewatch/re read Zatch Bell before I start the second, and yes, I NEEEEEEED IIIIT
@@valleyard8674 it's been like a year since I found and it's only the 7 seven chapters still( I've looked on 100 websites, so trust me when I say idk what the hell is going on, but it's teasing the hell out of me like crazy). Definitely rematch or reread it for sure, I do it at least every 2 years and every time it always fresh and exciting. Nothing else like it even compares. The story, the characters, the action, the comedy. Everything you need is there.v
Zatch Bell use to be one of my childhood anime’s to watch on toonami. If any anime deserves a reboot or a continuation on the original dub it’s this series.
@@noway8259 I didn't mention it cause I wanted the video to only focus on the original series. Also there was no space in the script for it, so even if I wanted to mention it I wouldn't have been able to. It was super hard to write that when I got to the end it didn't feel like I could add more. I honestly felt like I got all the important beats I wanted to say which I hadn't seen anywhere else. While you can find a ton of talk about ZB 2 on the web. It also didn't feel right to just tac it on at the end since I don't really have anything to say about it.
@@Enzo_is_Tired That's entirely fair. In retrospect I feel my response was poorly put together and unhelpful. What I should have said was that a note in the video description might have ameliorated worries that someone might watch this and think that it was exhaustive. Don't get me wrong I do find what you did very impressive and regret not noting that earlier. That said, that's not your duty or anything of the like and I am sorry if I in anyway contributed to any trouble on your part.
@@noway8259 You didn't cause me any trouble and my bad if this came off negative. I was more trying to address something that I know others are thinking.
Zatch Bell is the one of the only series I find myself rereading/rewatching from scratch every few years. There's so much to digest/analysis that you're rewarded by multiple viewings. It has something to due with the amount of care Makoto Raiku puts into his characters and character relationships.While the fights and story are amazing, the character relationships/chemistry/developments is what carries the series for me.
Same here, I've almost never reread a manga series except this one, which I've read 3 times now throughout the years and I'm keeping up with the sequel manga now that it's coming out! Really need more people to hop on Zatch Bell lol
If you like zatch bell, I recommend reading 'Toriko', its a manga made by mitsutoshi shimabukuro. It has a huge world building and there is so much content on it, there is so much detail even all the little stuff, its handled as it was a real world. Toriko is a really excellent and underrated manga, I hope you read it!
Actually! If you like ZB check out Hyde and Closer! made by one of Raiku's assistants and it's pretty much diet ZB. Haro Aso would later make Zom 100 so he's pretty solid.
The amount of passion that radiates from every page of this manga is almost tangible. Zatch bell resonated with me on an emotional level unlike any other manga. I'm hoping the anime gets a reboot one day.
& then even the anime from back then made 12 y/o me feel things i didn't quite know was possible, and aesthetically got me enthralled as well. i was crazily attracted to every new character design & became that much more literate thanks to the series as well in terms of knowing how both japanese _/AND_ english worked. im gonna start on the manga like in a matter of days from now. if that's aesthically pleasing already tenfold from the anime? hoo boi
Zatch Bell is the type of show that would have been so much better off if released a decade later after the original air date. It meets a lot of good solid criteria for relatively popular shows that are being released today. Strategy, high risk, if your book dies then you die and you cannot be resurrected or come back, goofy comedy, funny side characters, solid music.
With the new Gash Bell manga, would be awesome if the first series got a remake, especially because of the last original arc, that wasn't in the anime and is FUCKING GREAT.
Zatch Bell has been and always will be my favourite shonen of all time. Despite the fact that I watched it as a pre teen and absolutely adored it, even now as an adult I'm happily on my third rewatch of the series to catch up for the second manga (having already read the first once too lol). It's just got this sheer perfect blend of heart, power dynamics, style and creativity that surpasses most of the top contemporary shonen imo. The characters and soundtracks are absolutely iconic and the battles like Zatch vs Bari/Zeon still get me riled up like no other! I am literally so happy to belong to an era where this series is still in continuation XD
i'm so glad that zatch bell has attention enough to warrant videos even all these years later, it was a favorite show of mine in my childhood but i have hardly heard anything about it over the years. it's always been a fond memory to look back on when i hear it mentioned every few years, but finding this video made me so happy cuz i feel validated in how much i did genuinely enjoy it, even as a kid. i'll probably go and rewatch it now cuz my passion has been reawakened and i thank you for that!
You have no idea how much I want to see This series get remade with today's animation! It would also be amazing if they followed the true story in the manga too! 💛
The sequel hasn’t ended? I’m up to the part where they beat the one eye giant and zatch appears in a body of a mummy but I don’t want to rush it if they already wrapped it up
Zatch Bell still remains my favorite Shounen Manga ever made and one I often find myself re-reading, for all the reasons said in this video and more. The story arcs, how it handles common Shonen cliches, the characters, the art, it all blends together so beautifully. And it warms my heart to see more and more talk about it these days. May it finally get the praise it deserves one day. And may it finally get a new anime adaptation one day.
Gash Bell has one of the best premises and power system in shonen I would say. Sad that the anime messed up Zeno’s Arc and didn’t get to adapt the final arc with Clear Note and Evil Boss Baby.
To this day I still hope that 1 day they'll remake zatch bell, this anime already had some top tier animation for the time especially for the spell, so just imagining Zatch bell spells with modern animation is insane
Not to mention, to animate the real ending. The last arc of the manga is absolutely FUCKING great. Didn't watch the anime version of an end, but to not have an entire arc, i can't think it was as good as it could be. And now that the manga is getting a sequel, it would be a perfect time for a remake.
@@BrunoFernandes-ty7mf i know right and as for the anime ending, it technically was not finished, since the animation studio wanted zatch bell to end as soon as possible, but the manga still wasn't finished so the studio just made their own story for the last couple episodes, there might be some facts I'm missing so you can look into this if you want
@@BrunoFernandes-ty7mf A remake that's faithful to the manga would be amazing. I was maybe 13 when I watched the anime and I loved it, then I discovered manga and read it. When I got to Faudo arc, I was like ''This is what actually happens? HOLY SHIT'' lol
well there is zatch bell 2. years after the first which taps into a few concepts they touched on but never did anything with it. spoiler!@#4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tio got gains
I used to carry a marble bound notebook with me on the bus (i colored it red with red sharpie) and drew imaginary glyphs in it and pretended I had a companion like zatch. I, to this day, love yellowfin tuna sushi because of him. Thank you for hitting a nostalgia goldmine for me.
This video is beautifully assembled. I don't often see manga motion graphics looking this clean. Speaking as someone who had never heard of Zatch Bell before, your passion is clear.
Thank you so much for this immaculate assessment of the series! I don't even know where to begin! The way you carefully broke down those core characters, the comprehensive explanations about the underlying themes of the series, and even going as far as to really peel back the layers and show the strengths and weaknesses of the design incorporated into both the manga and the anime... amazing stuff all around. The graphical formatting was top-notch as well, you are a major talent! If I had to pick one thing that I agree with the most from this video, it's that the character duo dynamic of the Zatch Bell franchise is one of its most ingenious concepts... How even if allied teams were separated in the fray, you know that no character is ever truly alone because the demon and the human will always have each other... so to have that reassurance threatened by something as fragile as the burning of a book... it really ups the stakes in a unique and gripping way! There's also the fact that it's such a goal-oriented series compared to most other Shonen, so you're definitely not going to pick up this manga and wind up with a character who just wants to get stronger for the sake of being strong... there is always motivation that drives them, in many different facets! I also love how Zatch Bell is actually one of your very first anime that you were able to really get to sit down and enjoy, that's truly something special... Please be sure to check out the sequel manga Zatch Bell 2 as well! After some strained working relations with his old publisher, Makoto Raiku has put together a team and launched his own publishing company to house the sequel, which means we get a real raw look at how he would continue writing for the series, on his own time, uninhibited by any sort of corporate meddling. There's an ideal website to read it on, since we update it pretty regularly and those updates are unfortunately ignored by other scanlation websites... I won't post the site's link here out of respect for you and your channel, but do let me know if you'd like to know where to go! :) I'm also happy to offer any insight or input when it comes to all things Zatch Bell if you ever want to hit me up on Twitter or Discord!
Hey there, glad to see another Zatch Bell enjoyer out there. I hope you know that Makoto Raiku started publishing a direct sequel series last year and from the 12 chapters that are out now, it has exactly the same heart as the original run. I only found out about this last week and caught up to the 12 chapters currently available. I'm not aware of any official non-Japanese release so far unfortunately, but fan translations are out there if you want that good good.
I’m interested in how our mc group will deal with the antagonists in the sequel since unlike the original, they’re being actively hunted down in the sequel.
Do you know where I can watch the show in the original Japanese? I don’t mind watching it in English,But they didn’t finish the run. I tried looking for it on Crunchyroll I can’t find it
Thanks for helping me revisit this old franchise that once meant allot to me. I'll take your video and your passion as a reason to go back and finish the series proper.
Medabots, Zatch Bell, Soul Eater, Nagatoro, and Deltora Quest will be my top 5 anime forever. Overlord, Little Witch Academia and Mysterious Gf X is close
When I was a kid, I LOVED THIS SHOW!! it was actually the first manga series that hit me into reading, funny enough, the only manga I was actually invested in, but I never managed to finish it cause I couldn’t get the editions I needed. THIS SERIES WAS WHAT GO ME INTO MAKING CHARACTERS! My first ever man character was an American mamodo/demon who’s name I still use in every Pokémon playthrough I do. The series definitely was ahead if its time, and I hate how craze of ninjas and superheroes threw this one to the sidelines! All of the feels are coming back!!
I did an iceberg video for the series on one of my other channels and I still learned a decent amount from this. This is my 4th favorite anime and that says alot when I've seen tons of shows like Black Lagoon, Gurren Lagann, My Hero and many many more. I've watched this since I was a kid, catching it on Toonami, one of the first mangas I picked up in my early teens at Jr high (even read it with my parents and they liked it) and playing a few of the games. I have a very personal story with this. I'm undiagnosed but I believe I have PTSD when it comes to children. I almost never have any good experiences with them all my life and it still effects me to this day. With this series, to see how much Kiyo believes in Zatch's goal to be a kind King, and how incredibly good Zatch is, that's something that's very missing in my life and I can't help but get a bit teary. I'd love to be Zatch's friend and alot of the other Mamodos' friend. I feel really proud of the good ones, even Brago, who I see alot of myself in too. I really like most of the characters and I almost never say that for the shows I watch; Some ppl might get tired of me bashing characters but that's almost nonexistent here. The simple but great power system and just how grand the battles get later on in the manga is what I look for in anime. The variety in spells and how the battles aren't always 2-on-2 keeps me coming back for more. I also really like the music in the anime and it's a shame that there's no release of the full OST in good quality. I'm hoping the sequel manga reaches the highs of the original but I do like Zatch's older look in it and I look forward to seeing previous characters (mostly Brago tbh) get an updated look and more spells if possible. I thank Raiku for giving us such a great series. It saddens me that even Animal Land (one of his later works) gets more attention than his most successful series. Let's hope that he gets another chance to get more eyes with a much better adaptation that covers all the arcs and even get another console game. It deserves way more than it's given
I love Zatch Bell manga! I wish the anime follow the manga more closely but I guess its hard when the manga isn't finsihed yet when the anime made. The battles are good, the comedy are funny, and the drama are tear jerking. The magic system is well developed. The character development is pretty good too. The character designs are top notch. Love this manga.
Finally getting around to commenting! Great video, and it's always glad to see people cover the series. You already covered a lot of what i'd say, but there's a few things I wanted to add and/or give my thoughts on: A key aspect of the series, alongside what you already covered about the tactics in fights, the power system, and the importance of character relationships and development (which I'll touch on more too) is the smart use of thematic and emotional contrast. You briefly covered this in the context of the artwork, but Raiku is an absolute MASTER of going between tonal extremes for the purpose of making any given emotion hit harder and feel more genuine: In one moment, the manga will be doing absurdist comedy, or chill slice of life sections, or what might otherwise be corny power of friendship stuff; but then in the next will stab you in the heart with intensely emotional and dark moments. It's this contrast that helps what would otherwise be corny or silly feel earned and heartfelt, since we know the characters have gone through really rough moments; and on the flip side, those lighter moments make the darker ones hit all the harder without feeling forced. The art shifts to match, with the wide goofy expressive faces and deformed shapes you mention in the video in one moment, and wide, pitch black shadows covering most of the image with intense cross hatching and thick outlines in the next. At risk of maybe playing it up, some of the latter panels remind me even of Berserk. Raiku also manages this extreme tonal contrast all without creating any dissonance or whiplash either, which is impressive considering how rapidly you go between the two extremes. Regarding what was said about character relationships, something I think that I want to slightly correct and add onto is that not all of the human-demon pairs necessarily contrast and compliment one another: Gash and Kiyomaro certainly do, with Gash being naive and a child (litterally, as opposed to your Gokus, Narutos, etc who are merely childish, which is I think part of why Gash in contrast is so likeable and feels distinct), and Kiyomaro being jaded and more pragmatic, where Gash teaches Kiyomaro to open up, become optimistic, and and see the value in others, and Kiyomaro teaches gash to think strategically, and tackle more nuanced questions of what it really means to be a King. But, say, Folgore and Kanchome don't have a contrast. Instead, they mirror each other: Both are cowards, but because they want the best for one another, each pushes the other to be be brave and improve as people (and I gotta say I disagree that they don't have development: Kanchome's development is HUGE, and Folgore's backstory is peak manga). There's many other examples, but in general, the nature of the relationships and their thematic connections vary: Some are contrasts, some are mirrors; some are akin to siblings, some parent and child, others lovers, etc. SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH Something that I only picked up on recently while re-reading the series is also how much Raiku's excellent writing and use of themes in character relationships and development is actually present in it's arcs, too. For example, when Zeon comes into the picture in the Faudo arc, there's a major emphasis on introspection and "finding the answer". This is more or less obvious depending on the translations you use, but both Zeon and Dufort often mention "bringing out the answer", or "we'll answer them with this!" and other lines like that. Dufort's ability s also literally called "Answer-Talker" (and his resolution in Africa also seems less random there when you look at it as "finding the answer", which some of the dialog alludes to). That the battle between Zeon and Gash is, itself, a reflection of the ideological difference in what constitutes power and personal growth is sort of obvious, but it's easy to miss that a lot of the dialog is itself referencing what "the answer" to that question is, and that it's not just Gash vs Zeon/Dufort, but also Gash vs Baou: in some translations, Baou uses the exact dialog and phrases Zeon and Durfort do, where they are giving into their hatred and rage in opposition to Gash's outlook. The conflict with Baou itself also forshadows Clear Note, who, unlike Gash, ends up being controlled by Shin Kuria entirely, with Dufort's backstory of building weapons of mass destruction also hints at: A lot of people see Clear as coming out of nowhere, but in reality he's building on the themes established late into the Faudo arc, and really the series as a whole, with his goal of killing all demons being in direct opposition to the core overarching theme of relationships leading to personal growth (both figuratively and literally, since it leads to new spells) END OF SPOILERS On the note of spells, a REALLY cool detail that wasn't brought up at all is how the names of spells are an actual language with a consistent set of rules and meanings behind each one. The series itself points out how "Gigano", "Dioga", "Shin", etc are power indicators; and it's obvious that Gash/Zeon's lighting spells all start with "Za-" or Reycom's ice spells "Gi-", but you can notice all the other terms have consistent meanings too: Transformation or enhancement spells all end in -Rugu or -Ruku; -uga refers to a piercing/beam effect, or a prefix like "Raaja-" means the spell covers a wider area, or "Ganzu-" means it's rapid fire. These are just some of so many other examples. Similarly, something that I think should be stressed is just how much spells vary in their utilities and functions: Some are offensive, some are defensive, some apply buff or debuffs, some act in a utility capacity to lock down areas, others interact with other spells and change what they do, and so on. In the video, you describe battles as almost being turned based, which I think may be misleading in that there's not literally "turns" and characters can and do use spells in rapid succession and in complex coregraphed ways, but what I assume you meant and is I think a key part of the appeal of fights in the series is how at any given moment, characters have to pick which spell they use, that spell will only ever do that one thing it does, and that the spell has a given "cost" of heart power/stamina. This gives fights a lot of limitations that characters have to creatively work around, and results in fights that can absolutely get as tactical as say a Jojo fight, but without as much room for asspulls or contrived justifications for how their power did that thing. (the heart power cost even means that late into the series, weaker spells continue to have a use as they're not as costly to throw out). The example you gave with Fein and the fight with the corner of the roof is, I think, actually a pretty basic example, and so many fights get WAAAAAAAAY more complex then that, especially because once you get into the proper story arcs, basically every fight in the series tends to have multiple teams of Demon-Human partners combining their powesets rather then just 1v1. And of course, since each demon-human pair is two people, that's a team in itself, with some humans jumping right in alongside the demons. So really, most fights are actually 4 on 4 or more, not just 1v1 or 2v2. I gotta say that while I agree the paneling is generally just okay; it's never bad, and there's absolutely some moments where the sense of motion and flow between panels is super well done: The page where Demolt catches and slams Gash/Umagon with his Nunchucks, for example, and there's a full string of like 4-5 pages both when Brago fights the Ancient Demons on the ruin's roof, and his fight with powered up Clear in the US while waiting for Gash to arrive, where almost every panel totally flows naturally from each other in an amazingly well coregraphed way. Regarding the anime, maybe I just missed it, but I'm not sure you ever explictly stated in the video that it straight up diverges from the manga's plot after a while: While I totally agree it has issues with art and animation (and that the 3rd OP is one of the few times it's well animated/drawn. Actually, the second half of the fight with Bari is too, it even emulates Raiku's intense shadows and thick outlines for that episode) and with pacing (and it does have loads of actual filler too), that divergence alone makes it a poor adaptation, IMO. It'a s shame, though, especially because the music in the anime IS consistently great, which is something I would have noted. The song scenes like Chichi wo Moge, Very Melon, etc are legendary for a reason, but even the normal tracks are great too, and some moments (like the aforementioned Bari fight, or Kid/Kanchome vs Belegium EO) are well done... but yeah, the manga is the way to go. I do have a guide that mentions the key moments the anime does well, and with links to videos that syncs up manga only content to the anime's soundtrack, though! Lastly, other random thoughts: I think a notable thing that seperates Gash from other shonen protagonists, beyond his age, is that he doesn't actually care if he wins or himself: Goku, Naruto, Luffy, and so many other protagonists are all fighting and striving for self betterment, wheras Gash's goal is simply to ensure that a kind king wins. He doesn't actually care if that's him, or Tio, or Umagon, etc. Also, while Gash is absolutely an early pioneer of the Battle Royale manga/anime, that there is an even earlier example, one that even mirrors the same "Human partnered with magical entity" setup that Gash and later stuff like Fate has: Shaman King. I do think Gash is the better manga, but I figured it was worth pointing out! Honestly there's so much more I could say, but i'm at the character limit. When you do check out the sequel, be sure to also read the Gaiden chapter and all the Gash Cafe chapters first, too! They take place before and forshadow the sequel.
So if anything in the video seems like a basic example is cause I don't want to spoil anything later in the series. I write and edit to be as spoiler free as possible. I don't say the fights are turn based, I say "they are turn based like" in reference to having a menu that you select abilities from. I do mention that the anime heavily diverges from the manga. I don't think the anime does anything good, every shot I would always notice something off. I don't think the music is great. Not saying it's bad it just came off very generic to me and I don't remember any tracks from it. It might just be that I'm not into the composer since he's done other anime that I like and the same thing I don't remember the music from them. In the case of Fulgore's backstory, I couldn't believe it since they were revealing it so late into the story that it was very obvious he was going to get taken out. It's very weak writing to flesh someone out just to get more emotionally attached to them before they're removed. I've seen that so many times in other things. Lastly, the manga composition are basic, it was super rare when I felt a page was utilizing the medium well and even then I've seen other manga have more creative layouts. Those pages in my opinion have very okay flow and I think an anime could do them a lot better and because of that I think they are weak. I'm not trying to be mean or anything I'm just very critical, sorry.
First of all, thank you for such a wonderful and well made video about one of my favorite manga of all time. I really hope this got others interested and they gave it a try! I actually have pretty similar gripes to you in terms of the anime and manga. Especially when the series is nearing the finale but there are some characters we know next to nothing about. I mean, Gorm and Ashuron made it to the top 10 but we've seen nothing of them and know next to nothing about them. You could argue that for Gorm we did KIND OF get a backstory in the mamodo world but we got nothing about his relationship with Mir which is sad since she obviously wanted to protect him and she's one of the rare humans who is shown to be able to communicate with their non speaking partner with no aid. I think my favorite part of Zatch Bell is the wide array of who we get to see in the series. It's a battle shounen but it doesn't block itself in by just having a bunch of macho guys or high schoolers; a book keeper can be anyone and it makes their relationship with their partner special. For example, Elly; she's one of the youngest humans in the competition and probably the most frail considering her physical health. However, when paired with Arth its clear how strong she truly is. She's incredibly mature for her age and quite the tactician to be able to command a mamodo like Arth. She's not afraid of death or sacrifice. I think that if Konjiki no Gash!! has any "deeper" meaning or message its something like, "people will come crashing into your life and change it forever but you will always have to say goodbye eventually so make everyday matter."
Thank you for watching! The script was super hard to write and it didn't fit in anywhere by the time I finished it. It also didn't feel right to tack it on at the end since I don't really have anything to say about it.
It's so great to finally see such an in-depth video on why Zatch Bell is so good. THIS is the most underrated anime/manga of ALL time for me. It's so amazing, yet got seriously overshadowed by Death Note and the Big 3. All of them are great, but I go back and rewatch Zatch every couple years. Bought the entire dub on DVD at my first Otakon back in 2017. Also own the video games, figures, a replica spellbook, the TCG, and a good chunk of the manga. Love this series so much.
I love Zatch Bell I remember Kolulu asking Zatch to burn her book really impacted me and I remember seeing the card game in Target but couldn't get it at the time According to my parents and grandparents, Digimon when I was a baby Digimon Adventure would happen to come on and I would watch it but I truly learned what anime was in middle school when Teen Nick showed Adventure and 02 so I consider it my first anime
I’m glad this story is getting a retrospective. It’s literally a anime that stayed in my mind for years and had a huge impact on me growing up. My siblings and me liked it so much that we bought the videogame and watch the anime all the way up to the sub episodes in the early 2000s. I haven’t rewatched it in years but even when you describe some of the episodes I still can remember. This is such a good show. I’m gonna read the manga holy crap. Favorite momoto growing up was ponygon. The episode where ponygon finally uses his book blew me away as a kid.
If Shaman King could get a revisit, then I'll hold on to hope for Zatch Bell! I loved the anime when I was little watching it on late-night YTV, but I'd be down to see a remake! I wonder if there is someplace to get physical copies of Zatch Bell.
I swear me and my sister are the only people who watched and knew zatch bell Would gladly rewatch this They rebooted Bash the stampede so bring Zatch and the funny horse
Friend, thanks for making this. I stumbled on it randomly and it was awesome. I am relatively new to anime (I got into anime in late 2020) so vids like this help me know about old and hidden gems in the medium. I like this series. The action, world building, characterisation, and the art all make it so enticing to get into. Thanks again.
Aww thanks! I focus heavily on lesser known series. As well as try to give others the credit they deserve in my opinion. So you're not really gonna see the new popular stuff here that often. If you're okay with that, you'll like the other stuff I'm working on.
Lupa is not the only dark skinned character (There's Garuza who you mentioned earlier.) And she's based on Whoopi Goldberg's apperance in Sister Act. She's supposed to be an ugly old woman but shes still a fun and memorable character.
Heck yes!! I loved the manga and I enjoyed the anime when I was younger. I go back and reread the manga once a year. I’m really happy the 2nd manga series is getting published! Great video! I would love to see Gash get the Bleach treatment. To continue the series in a more updated format and better still if they redo all of the anime.
i was just a bit too old for zatch to make a huge impact, dragonball, bebop & trigun had already done that, but I remember thinking it was fun & lighthearted.
Really enjoyed the video always been a huge Zatch Bell fan. I highly recommend the sequel Zatch Bell 2 which continues the story with a time skip. It hasn’t had many chapters yet, but it’s amazing to see how the characters have grown over the years. Plus more Zatch and Kiyo which is awesome!!
... thanks for your review of this MOST popular series. i fell in LOVE with the series with only watching a FEW episodes. the character that i LOVE the MOST is the MOUTHY main doll -like with the cape. NEVER have i seen something like him who like a genie telling his master how he feels and what to do. when it becomes AFFORDABLE, i plan on buying this series as it appeared on Cartoon Network!
Zatch Bell was indeed one of my fav mangas to read when I was a kid, I was introduced to it by finding the manga in my local book store & loved every bit of it. I agree Makoto Raiku's linework had a distinctive style that sets it apart from other mangakas at that time, much like Hiroyuki Takei with Shaman King. Thanks for this series review it was a joy to watch
The plot reminds me of the succession war arc in HxH now that i think about it. It clicked when you mention something about how the contestants are to grow from the whole experience of the battle royale to make the new King as strong as possible. Liked and subbed
I have every zatch bell manga book translated into English that you can. I remember as a young lad I didn't know why they stopped. This video is so good. You gained a sub!
I love this anime and just want to say this. When Gash and Kiyomaro fight Nazo Nazo Hakase or Riddle professor I think, there was a part where he hints at how the spell books work. Just relying on a book is not the way to go. It's all within you to find the truth or your true potential. Just like life. Growing up Christian it really hit hard. I find it can be a metaphor for religion or dogmas in the world. Many people lose themselves relying on the Holy Bible for their spiritual support, but in fact it's within us to make those changes, to "unlock" new "spells" for us in our lives. I thought it was thought provoking. I would love to talk to the artist one day about the ideas he had for this amazing series.
I watch alot animes before started watching animes but I didn't knew it they were anime , as everyone I also called it cartoon but when I completed Zatch Bell i knew the difference between anime and cartoon and I started watching animes
Kido ep was the most emotional ep for me when his book get burnt not because he was crying for getting eliminat ir getting panic, but he fought the fight till the very end. He kniw his chace of being the king is over but still he went like a warrior who still fought till the very end to save his friends and complete the mission. Truly zatchbell is a the masterpeice during my time
This was a nice video. I was always confused with Zatch bell. I watched snippet of the episodes at cousin's house as they own cable. And one day I finished the anime like a decade ago and felt very unsatisfied. I considered reading the manga but I also felt unsatisfied, but then again I finished where the anime left off. This video answered my questions about my feelings. It was a very neat take on the series even emphasizing the battle royale aspect and how Zatch had unique timing to it. It makes these deep dives worth it because there's so much wider detail to these old successful series.
Thank you! One of the reasons I wanted to make this was to make a good chunk of the audience aware that they most likely didn't finish it. Since the anime was their only interaction. I wanted to introduce it to a new audience while letting the OGs back in with some new stuff. I'm glad you enjoyed this deep look. There are many other series I don't think get the credit they deserve and I hope to give them their flowers.
@@Enzo_is_Tired One series I feel like would be interesting is MAR Marchen Awaken Romance. For some reason clips of it have so many views on TH-cam yet it's one of the most generic feeling series ever. Maybe because for some ppl it was their gateway anime and it being an almost pure tournament story. The only side piece of Zatch that I remember was the magazine being cheap with them not paying the mangaka the full amount for his color spreads or something and it being his reason for leaving the manga business and now I'm hearing news of a sequel.
The Law of Ueki is KING. The ability to use trash as a power is godlike. I saw this in Vietnam, 2004-2006on a channel specific to anime. I was mind blown a channel specific to anime after being exposed to adult swim and started reading manga in 2007 heavily. Blackjack, conan, lupin all had this specific genre feel. Onemanga the og of manga web then the og kissanime and crunchy roll. Saw like 13 episode anime then some yuri isekei. First anime would be og Dragon ball, G Gundam, Tenchi Muyo. I was 13 during 2007. Yoooo flashback to netflix CDs, hollywood videos, but netflix CDs have access to Slayers.
Gash Bell is the tanjiro who doesn't rely on others and is kind hearted but still fights for the ones he loves without a second thought and then also tries to question with them that what they are doing is wrong.
First anime I remember being hooked on was Robotech. Yes, looking back at it and rewatching it now is REALLY rough! But as a pre-teen male, that show was awesome!
Same actually. I went back many many years later, and even the original Macross didn't age nearly as well as it felt like it originally did. I found that I was surprisingly far less onboard with some of it's pacing and animation. I also realize these days just what a terrible, annoying, and obnoxious person Minmay actually was, how Max and Miriya's relationship made NO sense and came right the hell out of nowhere, how forced a lot of the narrative was and how absoutely useless Roy's pointless death was to the story. Macross used to be one of my favorites, but now I see for being a terribly disjointed mess, whether you watch it in English or Japanese.
Zatch Bell and Dragon Ball are the reasons I'm into anime and manga to this day. Zatch Bell was also my first ever manga series that i started reading when i was in 3rd grade. I'm four years out of college and I still look back on it fondly.
Zatch Bell was the highlight of my day as a kid. I was so pissed when the anime ended. I wasn't much of a manga reader back then , but I decided to read the manga. And I pretty much balled my eyes out at the ending.
When Zatch met Kolulu and promised to become a righteous king and end the battle for Momodo King, I was hooked. He wasnt like Ash looking to be the very best like no one ever was, or Luffy looking to be Pirate King, or Goku wanting to be as strong as he can be, to overcome and surpass his limits, which one can say is done out of ego or self interest, he wanted to become king to end the violence wrought by a war that forced kind and pacifistic Mamodo like Kolulu to become monsters against their will. I mean, look what happened between Tia and Maruss? This war, this battle, had to stop, and Zatch would strive to be the last one standing to ensure this.
have not seen this series in over a decade hardly remember it tho you did a great job on selling it plus been looking for a manga to read through so going to give it a read soon
By far my favorite series. I watch it on tv but never got the resolution of the zofis fight. When i started reading manga, i was looking for more to read. I remembered really liking zatch bell (gash bell) so i decided to read it through and finish it. Inwas not prepared for how much i loved it. To date, it is my most re-read manga series. I always come back to it and feel the need to enjoybit again when i think about it. Ive read the series in its entirety 4 times. It has such a good balance. The comedic elements are absolutely hilarious, the touching moments are sad and heart renching. The action is visually satisfying and smart. I cant get enough of it. I love watching the escalation of the story and the main characters and their abilities. To anyone that has only watched anime and hasnt read the manga, i just want to say your really missing out. I highly suggest it. Btw, they recently started the manga sequel.
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Seriously glad YT put this in my feed. Zatch Bell was awesome! Read the whole series. I'm glad you mentioned Barry as well. Cause his return later in the series, it's stuck with me since I read it, when his partner tells him how he's grown. Ahh, soo good. Wish the anime could get a reboot. It could stand out in today's anime landscape, still!
Hello to everyone coming from this video! Just want to let you know I'm currently working on another biggie they just take time. So I apologize in advance for the wait, hopefully the smaller filler videos I upload will hold you guys over till then. But I hope you'll see it real soon. :)
here because youtube algorithm, stayed for nostalgia. i remember having the tcg cards for zatch bell without knowing anything about the show nor knowing how to play said tcg game
They started on a second manga recently. Only a few chapters so far but worth it
@@napdad Ohhh, I think I passed something about that a while ago and was like "nah, I'm going crazy, there's no way" now I need to rewatch/re read Zatch Bell before I start the second, and yes, I NEEEEEEED IIIIT
@@valleyard8674 it's been like a year since I found and it's only the 7 seven chapters still( I've looked on 100 websites, so trust me when I say idk what the hell is going on, but it's teasing the hell out of me like crazy). Definitely rematch or reread it for sure, I do it at least every 2 years and every time it always fresh and exciting. Nothing else like it even compares. The story, the characters, the action, the comedy. Everything you need is there.v
@@napdad I still pretty much feel the opening without watching it, just... a freaking masterpiece
Zatch Bell use to be one of my childhood anime’s to watch on toonami. If any anime deserves a reboot or a continuation on the original dub it’s this series.
It has a continuation now, in manga form at least. I'm surprised that wasn't mentioned in the video.
@@noway8259 I didn't mention it cause I wanted the video to only focus on the original series. Also there was no space in the script for it, so even if I wanted to mention it I wouldn't have been able to. It was super hard to write that when I got to the end it didn't feel like I could add more. I honestly felt like I got all the important beats I wanted to say which I hadn't seen anywhere else. While you can find a ton of talk about ZB 2 on the web. It also didn't feel right to just tac it on at the end since I don't really have anything to say about it.
@@Enzo_is_Tired That's entirely fair. In retrospect I feel my response was poorly put together and unhelpful.
What I should have said was that a note in the video description might have ameliorated worries that someone might watch this and think that it was exhaustive.
Don't get me wrong I do find what you did very impressive and regret not noting that earlier.
That said, that's not your duty or anything of the like and I am sorry if I in anyway contributed to any trouble on your part.
@@noway8259 You didn't cause me any trouble and my bad if this came off negative. I was more trying to address something that I know others are thinking.
Needs to continued dub with same cast.
I just want everybody to know that this has a sequel. The stakes are higher and it started really emotional and strong
name?
@@hustlehub_in Zatch Bell 2. No seriously it's just Zatch Bell 2.
Without spoiling what are the stakes?
The death game is required for the demon world to survive or it will be destroyed @isaaccabal7054
Zatch Bell is the one of the only series I find myself rereading/rewatching from scratch every few years. There's so much to digest/analysis that you're rewarded by multiple viewings. It has something to due with the amount of care Makoto Raiku puts into his characters and character relationships.While the fights and story are amazing, the character relationships/chemistry/developments is what carries the series for me.
Same here, I've almost never reread a manga series except this one, which I've read 3 times now throughout the years and I'm keeping up with the sequel manga now that it's coming out! Really need more people to hop on Zatch Bell lol
If you like zatch bell, I recommend reading 'Toriko', its a manga made by mitsutoshi shimabukuro. It has a huge world building and there is so much content on it, there is so much detail even all the little stuff, its handled as it was a real world. Toriko is a really excellent and underrated manga, I hope you read it!
Actually! If you like ZB check out Hyde and Closer! made by one of Raiku's assistants and it's pretty much diet ZB. Haro Aso would later make Zom 100 so he's pretty solid.
The amount of passion that radiates from every page of this manga is almost tangible. Zatch bell resonated with me on an emotional level unlike any other manga. I'm hoping the anime gets a reboot one day.
@Bitch Titters Yes but the anime still needs a remake
Agreed.
& then even the anime from back then made 12 y/o me feel things i didn't quite know was possible, and aesthetically got me enthralled as well. i was crazily attracted to every new character design & became that much more literate thanks to the series as well in terms of knowing how both japanese _/AND_ english worked. im gonna start on the manga like in a matter of days from now. if that's aesthically pleasing already tenfold from the anime? hoo boi
Zatch Bell is the type of show that would have been so much better off if released a decade later after the original air date. It meets a lot of good solid criteria for relatively popular shows that are being released today. Strategy, high risk, if your book dies then you die and you cannot be resurrected or come back, goofy comedy, funny side characters, solid music.
With the new Gash Bell manga, would be awesome if the first series got a remake, especially because of the last original arc, that wasn't in the anime and is FUCKING GREAT.
A rerelease is definitely needed
and a better dub cast
@@DengekiVR already a given. the previous cast are too union(not that that's a bad thing)/aged from then lol
Zatch Bell has been and always will be my favourite shonen of all time. Despite the fact that I watched it as a pre teen and absolutely adored it, even now as an adult I'm happily on my third rewatch of the series to catch up for the second manga (having already read the first once too lol). It's just got this sheer perfect blend of heart, power dynamics, style and creativity that surpasses most of the top contemporary shonen imo. The characters and soundtracks are absolutely iconic and the battles like Zatch vs Bari/Zeon still get me riled up like no other!
I am literally so happy to belong to an era where this series is still in continuation XD
i'm so glad that zatch bell has attention enough to warrant videos even all these years later, it was a favorite show of mine in my childhood but i have hardly heard anything about it over the years. it's always been a fond memory to look back on when i hear it mentioned every few years, but finding this video made me so happy cuz i feel validated in how much i did genuinely enjoy it, even as a kid. i'll probably go and rewatch it now cuz my passion has been reawakened and i thank you for that!
>Regular human's can't take the demon attacks
Iron man Parco Folgore would like a word.
True hippo chad
bold of you to call Parco folgore a regular human.
You have no idea how much I want to see This series get remade with today's animation! It would also be amazing if they followed the true story in the manga too! 💛
The manga actually has been continued, look up Zatch Bell 2. It was announced last year and it's amazing so far.
I'd love to see a studio like Mappa or Trigger pick up Zatch Bell 2 once the story has more content.
The sequel hasn’t ended? I’m up to the part where they beat the one eye giant and zatch appears in a body of a mummy but I don’t want to rush it if they already wrapped it up
@@GeuseWRLD or toei still. look at what they're accomplishing with WANO & Egghead in one piece, lol
Zatch Bell still remains my favorite Shounen Manga ever made and one I often find myself re-reading, for all the reasons said in this video and more.
The story arcs, how it handles common Shonen cliches, the characters, the art, it all blends together so beautifully.
And it warms my heart to see more and more talk about it these days.
May it finally get the praise it deserves one day.
And may it finally get a new anime adaptation one day.
The designs in this series are so appealing. Very vibrant and simple while also feeling effortlessly cool!
Outrageously underrated manga. It’s one of those works that you can only fully appreciate once you are older.
Yeah, definitely 💯
Gash Bell has one of the best premises and power system in shonen I would say. Sad that the anime messed up Zeno’s Arc and didn’t get to adapt the final arc with Clear Note and Evil Boss Baby.
Also poor Momon didn't get his character development haha
Boss Baby lol😂
@@unionfireYeah, that's true
@@unionfireBari as well
It even changed the Fausto arc
Some battles were different and Zatch doesn’t gain any new spells
The manga is VERY good. I think it blends comedy, suspense and drama well. It's lighthearted but also very determined.
To this day I still hope that 1 day they'll remake zatch bell, this anime already had some top tier animation for the time especially for the spell, so just imagining Zatch bell spells with modern animation is insane
Zatch Bell: Brotherhood
Not to mention, to animate the real ending. The last arc of the manga is absolutely FUCKING great. Didn't watch the anime version of an end, but to not have an entire arc, i can't think it was as good as it could be.
And now that the manga is getting a sequel, it would be a perfect time for a remake.
@@BrunoFernandes-ty7mf i know right and as for the anime ending, it technically was not finished, since the animation studio wanted zatch bell to end as soon as possible, but the manga still wasn't finished so the studio just made their own story for the last couple episodes, there might be some facts I'm missing so you can look into this if you want
@@BrunoFernandes-ty7mf A remake that's faithful to the manga would be amazing. I was maybe 13 when I watched the anime and I loved it, then I discovered manga and read it. When I got to Faudo arc, I was like ''This is what actually happens? HOLY SHIT'' lol
well there is zatch bell 2.
years after the first which taps into a few concepts they touched on but never did anything with it.
spoiler!@#4
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tio got gains
Bari is such an amazing character, and seeing how far he's gotten in his fight with Keys is brilliant
Zatch is more than it was ever meant to be, Makoto Raiku really made something you can't find anywhere else, and I'm so happy that zatch 2 is ongoing.
Me too☺️
I used to carry a marble bound notebook with me on the bus (i colored it red with red sharpie) and drew imaginary glyphs in it and pretended I had a companion like zatch. I, to this day, love yellowfin tuna sushi because of him. Thank you for hitting a nostalgia goldmine for me.
We need a reboot, with a good studio and if possible then the og va cast. It'll be a blast. Tbh, zatch bell was way ahead of it's time.
If someone didn't know, the Sequel of Zatch Bell manga has started. And it's freaking crazy.
Yupp ZatchBell 2 is crazy
Zatch Bell is unjustly underrated. To this day after decades of watching thousands of anime it's still one of my favorites of all time.
In any other shonen, Sherry would have been a man. Just for that, the author has my respect.
This video is beautifully assembled. I don't often see manga motion graphics looking this clean. Speaking as someone who had never heard of Zatch Bell before, your passion is clear.
It's really good, you should give it a try.
I'm both surprised and happy that people are still talking about Zatch Bell in 2023.
Zatch Bell and The Law of Ueki forever holds a special place in my heart.
As a Zatch Bell super fan. Well done!!!!!!!
*Gash Bell.
Lol super fan
Yo i was 7 to 8 years old watching this and never knew the name, now a memory has unlocked🔓👌🏾and the clarity feels dope
A super fan of this show? Fkn weird lol it sucks
@@Akchun21 Why are you gatekeeping? Does it make you feel smart?
@@nenstand4750 the dude proclaimed to be a "super fan" and all I'm doing is calling him out. No need to get butthurt for another dude 🤦♂️🤣
Thank you so much for this immaculate assessment of the series! I don't even know where to begin! The way you carefully broke down those core characters, the comprehensive explanations about the underlying themes of the series, and even going as far as to really peel back the layers and show the strengths and weaknesses of the design incorporated into both the manga and the anime... amazing stuff all around. The graphical formatting was top-notch as well, you are a major talent!
If I had to pick one thing that I agree with the most from this video, it's that the character duo dynamic of the Zatch Bell franchise is one of its most ingenious concepts... How even if allied teams were separated in the fray, you know that no character is ever truly alone because the demon and the human will always have each other... so to have that reassurance threatened by something as fragile as the burning of a book... it really ups the stakes in a unique and gripping way! There's also the fact that it's such a goal-oriented series compared to most other Shonen, so you're definitely not going to pick up this manga and wind up with a character who just wants to get stronger for the sake of being strong... there is always motivation that drives them, in many different facets!
I also love how Zatch Bell is actually one of your very first anime that you were able to really get to sit down and enjoy, that's truly something special... Please be sure to check out the sequel manga Zatch Bell 2 as well! After some strained working relations with his old publisher, Makoto Raiku has put together a team and launched his own publishing company to house the sequel, which means we get a real raw look at how he would continue writing for the series, on his own time, uninhibited by any sort of corporate meddling. There's an ideal website to read it on, since we update it pretty regularly and those updates are unfortunately ignored by other scanlation websites... I won't post the site's link here out of respect for you and your channel, but do let me know if you'd like to know where to go! :) I'm also happy to offer any insight or input when it comes to all things Zatch Bell if you ever want to hit me up on Twitter or Discord!
Hey there, glad to see another Zatch Bell enjoyer out there. I hope you know that Makoto Raiku started publishing a direct sequel series last year and from the 12 chapters that are out now, it has exactly the same heart as the original run. I only found out about this last week and caught up to the 12 chapters currently available. I'm not aware of any official non-Japanese release so far unfortunately, but fan translations are out there if you want that good good.
Thanks! I already know about the sequel, it's what made me move around video plans last year.
I’m interested in how our mc group will deal with the antagonists in the sequel since unlike the original, they’re being actively hunted down in the sequel.
Screw you for saying good good. What is wrong with you?
I just learned the sequel series has actually come into existence. I love this series, and I'm so glad to come back to it.
Battle Royale, the book that is, came out in 1999. The manga followed soon after. Also, zatch bell as a whole SCREAMS pokemon influence.
Thank you for covering Zatch Bell! This is one of my favorite shonens of all time.
I saw the anime and also read the manga (they published it here in Spain). I loved this series. Always glad to find someone acknowledge Zatchbell.
Do you know where I can watch the show in the original Japanese? I don’t mind watching it in English,But they didn’t finish the run. I tried looking for it on Crunchyroll I can’t find it
Two things i like this series..
1) Melon song
2)Chichi oppai dance
More Zatch Bell content please. We NEED it especially with the sequel being running currently.
Sorry! I'm a one and done type person. I just move on to the next project.
@@Enzo_is_Tired Understandable. Much love for this one then ❤️. Hope to see more good things from you regardless of what series it is.
@@stebogameboy Thanks! I am working on another one at the moment. Your support means a lot!
Thanks for helping me revisit this old franchise that once meant allot to me. I'll take your video and your passion as a reason to go back and finish the series proper.
so glad people are talking about gash! this is a timeless anime! you make me wanna restart it again too
zatch bell was goated, well done video also shoutout to you
Medabots, Zatch Bell, Soul Eater, Nagatoro, and Deltora Quest will be my top 5 anime forever. Overlord, Little Witch Academia and Mysterious Gf X is close
When I was a kid, I LOVED THIS SHOW!! it was actually the first manga series that hit me into reading, funny enough, the only manga I was actually invested in, but I never managed to finish it cause I couldn’t get the editions I needed.
THIS SERIES WAS WHAT GO ME INTO MAKING CHARACTERS! My first ever man character was an American mamodo/demon who’s name I still use in every Pokémon playthrough I do.
The series definitely was ahead if its time, and I hate how craze of ninjas and superheroes threw this one to the sidelines! All of the feels are coming back!!
I did an iceberg video for the series on one of my other channels and I still learned a decent amount from this. This is my 4th favorite anime and that says alot when I've seen tons of shows like Black Lagoon, Gurren Lagann, My Hero and many many more. I've watched this since I was a kid, catching it on Toonami, one of the first mangas I picked up in my early teens at Jr high (even read it with my parents and they liked it) and playing a few of the games. I have a very personal story with this.
I'm undiagnosed but I believe I have PTSD when it comes to children. I almost never have any good experiences with them all my life and it still effects me to this day. With this series, to see how much Kiyo believes in Zatch's goal to be a kind King, and how incredibly good Zatch is, that's something that's very missing in my life and I can't help but get a bit teary. I'd love to be Zatch's friend and alot of the other Mamodos' friend. I feel really proud of the good ones, even Brago, who I see alot of myself in too. I really like most of the characters and I almost never say that for the shows I watch; Some ppl might get tired of me bashing characters but that's almost nonexistent here.
The simple but great power system and just how grand the battles get later on in the manga is what I look for in anime. The variety in spells and how the battles aren't always 2-on-2 keeps me coming back for more. I also really like the music in the anime and it's a shame that there's no release of the full OST in good quality. I'm hoping the sequel manga reaches the highs of the original but I do like Zatch's older look in it and I look forward to seeing previous characters (mostly Brago tbh) get an updated look and more spells if possible. I thank Raiku for giving us such a great series. It saddens me that even Animal Land (one of his later works) gets more attention than his most successful series. Let's hope that he gets another chance to get more eyes with a much better adaptation that covers all the arcs and even get another console game. It deserves way more than it's given
I love Zatch Bell manga! I wish the anime follow the manga more closely but I guess its hard when the manga isn't finsihed yet when the anime made.
The battles are good, the comedy are funny, and the drama are tear jerking. The magic system is well developed. The character development is pretty good too. The character designs are top notch. Love this manga.
Finally getting around to commenting! Great video, and it's always glad to see people cover the series. You already covered a lot of what i'd say, but there's a few things I wanted to add and/or give my thoughts on: A key aspect of the series, alongside what you already covered about the tactics in fights, the power system, and the importance of character relationships and development (which I'll touch on more too) is the smart use of thematic and emotional contrast. You briefly covered this in the context of the artwork, but Raiku is an absolute MASTER of going between tonal extremes for the purpose of making any given emotion hit harder and feel more genuine: In one moment, the manga will be doing absurdist comedy, or chill slice of life sections, or what might otherwise be corny power of friendship stuff; but then in the next will stab you in the heart with intensely emotional and dark moments.
It's this contrast that helps what would otherwise be corny or silly feel earned and heartfelt, since we know the characters have gone through really rough moments; and on the flip side, those lighter moments make the darker ones hit all the harder without feeling forced. The art shifts to match, with the wide goofy expressive faces and deformed shapes you mention in the video in one moment, and wide, pitch black shadows covering most of the image with intense cross hatching and thick outlines in the next. At risk of maybe playing it up, some of the latter panels remind me even of Berserk. Raiku also manages this extreme tonal contrast all without creating any dissonance or whiplash either, which is impressive considering how rapidly you go between the two extremes.
Regarding what was said about character relationships, something I think that I want to slightly correct and add onto is that not all of the human-demon pairs necessarily contrast and compliment one another: Gash and Kiyomaro certainly do, with Gash being naive and a child (litterally, as opposed to your Gokus, Narutos, etc who are merely childish, which is I think part of why Gash in contrast is so likeable and feels distinct), and Kiyomaro being jaded and more pragmatic, where Gash teaches Kiyomaro to open up, become optimistic, and and see the value in others, and Kiyomaro teaches gash to think strategically, and tackle more nuanced questions of what it really means to be a King. But, say, Folgore and Kanchome don't have a contrast. Instead, they mirror each other: Both are cowards, but because they want the best for one another, each pushes the other to be be brave and improve as people (and I gotta say I disagree that they don't have development: Kanchome's development is HUGE, and Folgore's backstory is peak manga). There's many other examples, but in general, the nature of the relationships and their thematic connections vary: Some are contrasts, some are mirrors; some are akin to siblings, some parent and child, others lovers, etc.
SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH
Something that I only picked up on recently while re-reading the series is also how much Raiku's excellent writing and use of themes in character relationships and development is actually present in it's arcs, too. For example, when Zeon comes into the picture in the Faudo arc, there's a major emphasis on introspection and "finding the answer". This is more or less obvious depending on the translations you use, but both Zeon and Dufort often mention "bringing out the answer", or "we'll answer them with this!" and other lines like that. Dufort's ability s also literally called "Answer-Talker" (and his resolution in Africa also seems less random there when you look at it as "finding the answer", which some of the dialog alludes to). That the battle between Zeon and Gash is, itself, a reflection of the ideological difference in what constitutes power and personal growth is sort of obvious, but it's easy to miss that a lot of the dialog is itself referencing what "the answer" to that question is, and that it's not just Gash vs Zeon/Dufort, but also Gash vs Baou: in some translations, Baou uses the exact dialog and phrases Zeon and Durfort do, where they are giving into their hatred and rage in opposition to Gash's outlook. The conflict with Baou itself also forshadows Clear Note, who, unlike Gash, ends up being controlled by Shin Kuria entirely, with Dufort's backstory of building weapons of mass destruction also hints at: A lot of people see Clear as coming out of nowhere, but in reality he's building on the themes established late into the Faudo arc, and really the series as a whole, with his goal of killing all demons being in direct opposition to the core overarching theme of relationships leading to personal growth (both figuratively and literally, since it leads to new spells)
END OF SPOILERS
On the note of spells, a REALLY cool detail that wasn't brought up at all is how the names of spells are an actual language with a consistent set of rules and meanings behind each one. The series itself points out how "Gigano", "Dioga", "Shin", etc are power indicators; and it's obvious that Gash/Zeon's lighting spells all start with "Za-" or Reycom's ice spells "Gi-", but you can notice all the other terms have consistent meanings too: Transformation or enhancement spells all end in -Rugu or -Ruku; -uga refers to a piercing/beam effect, or a prefix like "Raaja-" means the spell covers a wider area, or "Ganzu-" means it's rapid fire. These are just some of so many other examples. Similarly, something that I think should be stressed is just how much spells vary in their utilities and functions: Some are offensive, some are defensive, some apply buff or debuffs, some act in a utility capacity to lock down areas, others interact with other spells and change what they do, and so on.
In the video, you describe battles as almost being turned based, which I think may be misleading in that there's not literally "turns" and characters can and do use spells in rapid succession and in complex coregraphed ways, but what I assume you meant and is I think a key part of the appeal of fights in the series is how at any given moment, characters have to pick which spell they use, that spell will only ever do that one thing it does, and that the spell has a given "cost" of heart power/stamina. This gives fights a lot of limitations that characters have to creatively work around, and results in fights that can absolutely get as tactical as say a Jojo fight, but without as much room for asspulls or contrived justifications for how their power did that thing. (the heart power cost even means that late into the series, weaker spells continue to have a use as they're not as costly to throw out). The example you gave with Fein and the fight with the corner of the roof is, I think, actually a pretty basic example, and so many fights get WAAAAAAAAY more complex then that, especially because once you get into the proper story arcs, basically every fight in the series tends to have multiple teams of Demon-Human partners combining their powesets rather then just 1v1. And of course, since each demon-human pair is two people, that's a team in itself, with some humans jumping right in alongside the demons. So really, most fights are actually 4 on 4 or more, not just 1v1 or 2v2.
I gotta say that while I agree the paneling is generally just okay; it's never bad, and there's absolutely some moments where the sense of motion and flow between panels is super well done: The page where Demolt catches and slams Gash/Umagon with his Nunchucks, for example, and there's a full string of like 4-5 pages both when Brago fights the Ancient Demons on the ruin's roof, and his fight with powered up Clear in the US while waiting for Gash to arrive, where almost every panel totally flows naturally from each other in an amazingly well coregraphed way.
Regarding the anime, maybe I just missed it, but I'm not sure you ever explictly stated in the video that it straight up diverges from the manga's plot after a while: While I totally agree it has issues with art and animation (and that the 3rd OP is one of the few times it's well animated/drawn. Actually, the second half of the fight with Bari is too, it even emulates Raiku's intense shadows and thick outlines for that episode) and with pacing (and it does have loads of actual filler too), that divergence alone makes it a poor adaptation, IMO. It'a s shame, though, especially because the music in the anime IS consistently great, which is something I would have noted. The song scenes like Chichi wo Moge, Very Melon, etc are legendary for a reason, but even the normal tracks are great too, and some moments (like the aforementioned Bari fight, or Kid/Kanchome vs Belegium EO) are well done... but yeah, the manga is the way to go. I do have a guide that mentions the key moments the anime does well, and with links to videos that syncs up manga only content to the anime's soundtrack, though!
Lastly, other random thoughts: I think a notable thing that seperates Gash from other shonen protagonists, beyond his age, is that he doesn't actually care if he wins or himself: Goku, Naruto, Luffy, and so many other protagonists are all fighting and striving for self betterment, wheras Gash's goal is simply to ensure that a kind king wins. He doesn't actually care if that's him, or Tio, or Umagon, etc. Also, while Gash is absolutely an early pioneer of the Battle Royale manga/anime, that there is an even earlier example, one that even mirrors the same "Human partnered with magical entity" setup that Gash and later stuff like Fate has: Shaman King. I do think Gash is the better manga, but I figured it was worth pointing out!
Honestly there's so much more I could say, but i'm at the character limit. When you do check out the sequel, be sure to also read the Gaiden chapter and all the Gash Cafe chapters first, too! They take place before and forshadow the sequel.
So if anything in the video seems like a basic example is cause I don't want to spoil anything later in the series. I write and edit to be as spoiler free as possible. I don't say the fights are turn based, I say "they are turn based like" in reference to having a menu that you select abilities from. I do mention that the anime heavily diverges from the manga. I don't think the anime does anything good, every shot I would always notice something off. I don't think the music is great. Not saying it's bad it just came off very generic to me and I don't remember any tracks from it. It might just be that I'm not into the composer since he's done other anime that I like and the same thing I don't remember the music from them.
In the case of Fulgore's backstory, I couldn't believe it since they were revealing it so late into the story that it was very obvious he was going to get taken out. It's very weak writing to flesh someone out just to get more emotionally attached to them before they're removed. I've seen that so many times in other things. Lastly, the manga composition are basic, it was super rare when I felt a page was utilizing the medium well and even then I've seen other manga have more creative layouts. Those pages in my opinion have very okay flow and I think an anime could do them a lot better and because of that I think they are weak. I'm not trying to be mean or anything I'm just very critical, sorry.
First of all, thank you for such a wonderful and well made video about one of my favorite manga of all time. I really hope this got others interested and they gave it a try! I actually have pretty similar gripes to you in terms of the anime and manga. Especially when the series is nearing the finale but there are some characters we know next to nothing about. I mean, Gorm and Ashuron made it to the top 10 but we've seen nothing of them and know next to nothing about them. You could argue that for Gorm we did KIND OF get a backstory in the mamodo world but we got nothing about his relationship with Mir which is sad since she obviously wanted to protect him and she's one of the rare humans who is shown to be able to communicate with their non speaking partner with no aid.
I think my favorite part of Zatch Bell is the wide array of who we get to see in the series. It's a battle shounen but it doesn't block itself in by just having a bunch of macho guys or high schoolers; a book keeper can be anyone and it makes their relationship with their partner special. For example, Elly; she's one of the youngest humans in the competition and probably the most frail considering her physical health. However, when paired with Arth its clear how strong she truly is. She's incredibly mature for her age and quite the tactician to be able to command a mamodo like Arth. She's not afraid of death or sacrifice.
I think that if Konjiki no Gash!! has any "deeper" meaning or message its something like, "people will come crashing into your life and change it forever but you will always have to say goodbye eventually so make everyday matter."
Great video! Was surprised the sequel manga wasn't mentioned at all, though!
Thank you for watching! The script was super hard to write and it didn't fit in anywhere by the time I finished it. It also didn't feel right to tack it on at the end since I don't really have anything to say about it.
finnaly someone talking about it,I was praying someone would make a vid like this thank you
Thank you for watching!
By the by, there's a sequel manga going on and it's just as good as ever.
It's so great to finally see such an in-depth video on why Zatch Bell is so good. THIS is the most underrated anime/manga of ALL time for me. It's so amazing, yet got seriously overshadowed by Death Note and the Big 3. All of them are great, but I go back and rewatch Zatch every couple years. Bought the entire dub on DVD at my first Otakon back in 2017. Also own the video games, figures, a replica spellbook, the TCG, and a good chunk of the manga. Love this series so much.
I loved Zatch Bell and I still do. I'm so happy there are still people who feel the same way.
I could watch a whole series just on analyzing the characterization and juxtapositions of the pairings of this series, holy moly.
Chichi wo moge is enough to make it a classic to me
I love Zatch Bell I remember Kolulu asking Zatch to burn her book really impacted me and I remember seeing the card game in Target but couldn't get it at the time
According to my parents and grandparents, Digimon when I was a baby Digimon Adventure would happen to come on and I would watch it but I truly learned what anime was in middle school when Teen Nick showed Adventure and 02 so I consider it my first anime
I’m glad this story is getting a retrospective. It’s literally a anime that stayed in my mind for years and had a huge impact on me growing up. My siblings and me liked it so much that we bought the videogame and watch the anime all the way up to the sub episodes in the early 2000s. I haven’t rewatched it in years but even when you describe some of the episodes I still can remember. This is such a good show. I’m gonna read the manga holy crap. Favorite momoto growing up was ponygon. The episode where ponygon finally uses his book blew me away as a kid.
Gash Bell is definitely my favorite manga, it's good to see someone covering it with so much detail
If Shaman King could get a revisit, then I'll hold on to hope for Zatch Bell! I loved the anime when I was little watching it on late-night YTV, but I'd be down to see a remake!
I wonder if there is someplace to get physical copies of Zatch Bell.
I swear me and my sister are the only people who watched and knew zatch bell
Would gladly rewatch this
They rebooted Bash the stampede so bring Zatch and the funny horse
Friend, thanks for making this. I stumbled on it randomly and it was awesome. I am relatively new to anime (I got into anime in late 2020) so vids like this help me know about old and hidden gems in the medium. I like this series. The action, world building, characterisation, and the art all make it so enticing to get into. Thanks again.
Aww thanks! I focus heavily on lesser known series. As well as try to give others the credit they deserve in my opinion. So you're not really gonna see the new popular stuff here that often. If you're okay with that, you'll like the other stuff I'm working on.
Lupa is not the only dark skinned character (There's Garuza who you mentioned earlier.) And she's based on Whoopi Goldberg's apperance in Sister Act. She's supposed to be an ugly old woman but shes still a fun and memorable character.
really good video man, zatch bell is actually the first anime that when i finished it i went to the manga to see how it ended
Heck yes!! I loved the manga and I enjoyed the anime when I was younger. I go back and reread the manga once a year. I’m really happy the 2nd manga series is getting published! Great video! I would love to see Gash get the Bleach treatment. To continue the series in a more updated format and better still if they redo all of the anime.
I would kill for a reboot, especially if it used the recent model sheets that came out.
I'm so happy that this manga had got a sequel, about a year ago now and it's still an insane story, with a more darker tone.
i was just a bit too old for zatch to make a huge impact, dragonball, bebop & trigun had already done that, but I remember thinking it was fun & lighthearted.
This reminded me why I fell in love with this series ❤️
Really enjoyed the video always been a huge Zatch Bell fan. I highly recommend the sequel Zatch Bell 2 which continues the story with a time skip. It hasn’t had many chapters yet, but it’s amazing to see how the characters have grown over the years. Plus more Zatch and Kiyo which is awesome!!
Shaman King is also a battle royale and it began publication in 1998
Sorry for being such a smart ass. Youre just talking about something you like
More of a tournament than a battle Royale
@@clawz161 but there are no fixed fights are there?
... thanks for your review of this MOST popular series. i fell in LOVE with the series with only watching a FEW episodes. the character that i LOVE the MOST is the MOUTHY main doll -like with the cape. NEVER have i seen something like him who like a genie telling his master how he feels and what to do. when it becomes AFFORDABLE, i plan on buying this series as it appeared on Cartoon Network!
the law of ueki also came out in 2001. guess what's the theme? a battle royale to choose the celestial king.
Zatch Bell was indeed one of my fav mangas to read when I was a kid, I was introduced to it by finding the manga in my local book store & loved every bit of it. I agree Makoto Raiku's linework had a distinctive style that sets it apart from other mangakas at that time, much like Hiroyuki Takei with Shaman King.
Thanks for this series review it was a joy to watch
Thank you for watching!
Dude, thank you. Zatch was my shit back in the day. You're the first guy to properly write about it.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I just try to give things the flowers they deserve.
The plot reminds me of the succession war arc in HxH now that i think about it.
It clicked when you mention something about how the contestants are to grow from the whole experience of the battle royale to make the new King as strong as possible. Liked and subbed
I never thought you would be a Zatch bell fan, man I love watching your videos and love you brother ❤️🔥
I have every zatch bell manga book translated into English that you can. I remember as a young lad I didn't know why they stopped. This video is so good. You gained a sub!
Your vid does an amazing job at reminding me of my deep love for this series.
yo this vid was sick. great stuff good editing
Thank you! This one killed me.
@@Enzo_is_Tired keep it up man you got yourself a sub. Blessings 🙏
The Berry and Brago teammate was one of the hypests moment in the series.
I love this anime and just want to say this. When Gash and Kiyomaro fight Nazo Nazo Hakase or Riddle professor I think, there was a part where he hints at how the spell books work. Just relying on a book is not the way to go. It's all within you to find the truth or your true potential. Just like life. Growing up Christian it really hit hard. I find it can be a metaphor for religion or dogmas in the world. Many people lose themselves relying on the Holy Bible for their spiritual support, but in fact it's within us to make those changes, to "unlock" new "spells" for us in our lives. I thought it was thought provoking. I would love to talk to the artist one day about the ideas he had for this amazing series.
Friendly reminder that the sequel manga, Gash Bell 2, is currently ongoing with translations and its great like the original
Definitely worth the wait. Thank you so very much for this. It is greatly appreciated.
I watch alot animes before started watching animes but I didn't knew it they were anime , as everyone I also called it cartoon but when I completed Zatch Bell i knew the difference between anime and cartoon and I started watching animes
Love seeing an analysis on one of my favorite anime. Also, Brago to this day has one of my favorite designs in anime
Zatch Bell was a masterpiece that was too ahead of its time. It came out in a time when anime fans were too young to understand it.
I legit believe if it came out today. Would've been massive.
Agreed! It was a victim of timing.
at the same time it might look too childish at first for someone new to the anime
Konjiki no Gash is actually famous in Japan, not outside.
gash Bell is so underrated and under loved.
Kido ep was the most emotional ep for me when his book get burnt not because he was crying for getting eliminat ir getting panic, but he fought the fight till the very end. He kniw his chace of being the king is over but still he went like a warrior who still fought till the very end to save his friends and complete the mission.
Truly zatchbell is a the masterpeice during my time
This was a nice video. I was always confused with Zatch bell. I watched snippet of the episodes at cousin's house as they own cable. And one day I finished the anime like a decade ago and felt very unsatisfied. I considered reading the manga but I also felt unsatisfied, but then again I finished where the anime left off. This video answered my questions about my feelings.
It was a very neat take on the series even emphasizing the battle royale aspect and how Zatch had unique timing to it. It makes these deep dives worth it because there's so much wider detail to these old successful series.
Thank you! One of the reasons I wanted to make this was to make a good chunk of the audience aware that they most likely didn't finish it. Since the anime was their only interaction. I wanted to introduce it to a new audience while letting the OGs back in with some new stuff. I'm glad you enjoyed this deep look. There are many other series I don't think get the credit they deserve and I hope to give them their flowers.
@@Enzo_is_Tired
One series I feel like would be interesting is MAR Marchen Awaken Romance. For some reason clips of it have so many views on TH-cam yet it's one of the most generic feeling series ever. Maybe because for some ppl it was their gateway anime and it being an almost pure tournament story.
The only side piece of Zatch that I remember was the magazine being cheap with them not paying the mangaka the full amount for his color spreads or something and it being his reason for leaving the manga business and now I'm hearing news of a sequel.
The Law of Ueki is KING. The ability to use trash as a power is godlike. I saw this in Vietnam, 2004-2006on a channel specific to anime. I was mind blown a channel specific to anime after being exposed to adult swim and started reading manga in 2007 heavily. Blackjack, conan, lupin all had this specific genre feel. Onemanga the og of manga web then the og kissanime and crunchy roll. Saw like 13 episode anime then some yuri isekei. First anime would be og Dragon ball, G Gundam, Tenchi Muyo. I was 13 during 2007. Yoooo flashback to netflix CDs, hollywood videos, but netflix CDs have access to Slayers.
Amazing video! If you made more Zatch Bell analysis videos, I’d watch the heck out of them lol
Gash Bell is the tanjiro who doesn't rely on others and is kind hearted but still fights for the ones he loves without a second thought and then also tries to question with them that what they are doing is wrong.
First anime I remember being hooked on was Robotech. Yes, looking back at it and rewatching it now is REALLY rough! But as a pre-teen male, that show was awesome!
Same actually. I went back many many years later, and even the original Macross didn't age nearly as well as it felt like it originally did. I found that I was surprisingly far less onboard with some of it's pacing and animation. I also realize these days just what a terrible, annoying, and obnoxious person Minmay actually was, how Max and Miriya's relationship made NO sense and came right the hell out of nowhere, how forced a lot of the narrative was and how absoutely useless Roy's pointless death was to the story. Macross used to be one of my favorites, but now I see for being a terribly disjointed mess, whether you watch it in English or Japanese.
Still ticked it ended on such a cliffhanger Zeno had just found "the ultimate weapon" of that universe and claiming this changes everything.
Zatch Bell and Dragon Ball are the reasons I'm into anime and manga to this day. Zatch Bell was also my first ever manga series that i started reading when i was in 3rd grade. I'm four years out of college and I still look back on it fondly.
Zatch Bell was the highlight of my day as a kid. I was so pissed when the anime ended. I wasn't much of a manga reader back then , but I decided to read the manga. And I pretty much balled my eyes out at the ending.
When Zatch met Kolulu and promised to become a righteous king and end the battle for Momodo King, I was hooked. He wasnt like Ash looking to be the very best like no one ever was, or Luffy looking to be Pirate King, or Goku wanting to be as strong as he can be, to overcome and surpass his limits, which one can say is done out of ego or self interest, he wanted to become king to end the violence wrought by a war that forced kind and pacifistic Mamodo like Kolulu to become monsters against their will. I mean, look what happened between Tia and Maruss? This war, this battle, had to stop, and Zatch would strive to be the last one standing to ensure this.
My “First Anime” was MÄR: Marchen Awakens Romance
Love that show
One of my favorite mangas 😭😭 I remember reading it in the library every day and I loved it. I wanna reread it again and again
Bro the numerous attacks on WonRei made me complacent that when Kidd's book burned, I was in denial. Then it broke me 12:08
have not seen this series in over a decade hardly remember it tho you did a great job on selling it plus been looking for a manga to read through so going to give it a read soon
By far my favorite series. I watch it on tv but never got the resolution of the zofis fight. When i started reading manga, i was looking for more to read. I remembered really liking zatch bell (gash bell) so i decided to read it through and finish it. Inwas not prepared for how much i loved it. To date, it is my most re-read manga series. I always come back to it and feel the need to enjoybit again when i think about it. Ive read the series in its entirety 4 times. It has such a good balance. The comedic elements are absolutely hilarious, the touching moments are sad and heart renching. The action is visually satisfying and smart. I cant get enough of it. I love watching the escalation of the story and the main characters and their abilities. To anyone that has only watched anime and hasnt read the manga, i just want to say your really missing out. I highly suggest it. Btw, they recently started the manga sequel.
Used to have zatch bell cards as a kid but never got to actually watch it
I love this manga, reread it every couple of years. I really wish it would get an anime remake. Rurouni Kenshin is getting one, Zatch Bell should too.
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Seriously glad YT put this in my feed. Zatch Bell was awesome! Read the whole series. I'm glad you mentioned Barry as well. Cause his return later in the series, it's stuck with me since I read it, when his partner tells him how he's grown. Ahh, soo good. Wish the anime could get a reboot. It could stand out in today's anime landscape, still!
I want a reboot of it so badly. Solid animation and creative directing would make it next level.